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SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs are looking to put a disappointing opening night behind them when they take on their Interstate 10 rivals, the Houston Rockets, Friday night in Austin.

The Southwest Division showdown tips off at 8:30 p.m. at the Moody Center, where the Spurs will play their first game of the season as part of the team's I-35 Series, bringing NBA basketball to fans in Central Texas.

San Antonio (0-1) is searching for its first victory of the young season after falling 116-104 to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night at the Frost Bank Center.

Houston (1-0), meanwhile, comes into the matchup riding the momentum of its season-opening victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.

Spurs hoping for a better start

Tuesday's season opener was supposed to be a celebration of the Spurs' remarkable run to the NBA Finals last season. Instead, Oklahoma City spoiled the party.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points as the Thunder jumped out to a commanding lead and held off a second-half comeback attempt by San Antonio.

Victor Wembanyama endured a frustrating night, finishing with 12 points while shooting just 1 of 13 from the field. The Spurs superstar missed his first 12 shots before finally connecting on an alley-oop from De'Aaron Fox at the end of the third quarter.

San Antonio trailed by as many as 26 points before opening the second half with a 23-9 run to make things interesting. But the Thunder responded whenever the Spurs threatened, handing San Antonio its first loss after a 62-win campaign and a trip to the NBA Finals last season.

Friday presents an opportunity for Wembanyama and the Spurs to get back on track against another Western Conference contender.

Houston brings winning momentum

The Rockets enter Friday's matchup looking to build on a successful season opener against Dallas.

Houston finished last season 52-30, including a 10-6 record against Southwest Division opponents, establishing itself as one of the stronger teams in the Western Conference. The Rockets were also competitive away from home, finishing 22-19 on the road.

San Antonio, however, was particularly difficult to beat on its home floor last season, going 32-8 while averaging 119.8 points per game. The Spurs also averaged 52.1 points in the paint, 17.1 points off turnovers and 16.3 fast-break points per game.

Those numbers reflect the offensive balance and transition attack that helped San Antonio reach the NBA Finals.

Injuries could play a role

The Spurs continue to monitor veteran forward Tobias Harris, who is listed as day to day with a calf injury.

Jayden Quaintance remains out with a knee injury.

Houston will be without center Steven Adams, who is listed as out with a calf injury.

What to watch

One of the biggest questions heading into Friday's game is how Wembanyama will respond after his difficult shooting performance against Oklahoma City.

The Spurs will also need a stronger start after allowing the Thunder to build a 21-point halftime lead Tuesday.

Houston presents another early test for a San Antonio team hoping to return to the NBA Finals and compete for the franchise's sixth championship.